RingCentral For Desktop 2021 Review: Features, Pricing, Plans, and More

Studies on remote work benefits show that allowing team members to work from home saves companies roughly $11,000 annually per employee. Not only that, but employees working from home are 47% more productive than those that work in an office.

Finding the right remote business communications solution is arguably the top factor influencing the levels of productivity and overall success your remote team will have.

RingCentral’s desktop app streamlines essential workplace communication and collaboration capabilities like video calling, instant chat messaging, and business telephony into a single platform.

The below RingCentral for Desktop review outlines the solution’s top features, available pricing and plans, and overall user experience. Tools like Glip’s RingCentral for Desktop streamline necessary team communication tools into a single platform, saving companies money and improving collaboration in the process.

 

Table of Contents: 

 

• RingCentral Desktop Pricing and Plans 
• What is RingCentral for Desktop? 
• An Overview of Essential RingCentral Desktop Features
• RingCentral Integrations
• RingCentral User Experience
• RingCentral Desktop Compatibility 
• Who Should Use RingCentral Plus Alternative Options
• RingCentral Desktop FAQs

 

RingCentral Desktop Pricing and Plans

 

RingCentral for Desktop offers four paid plans that can be paid monthly or annually, with annual billing saving users up to 33%. The most popular plan is the Premium option.

The below table outlines available plans and pricing.

 

Features	Essentials	Standard	Premium	Ultimate
Price	$19.99/user per month	$27.99/user per month	$34.99/user per month	$49.99/user per month
User Limit	10 users maximum	Unlimited users	Unlimited users	Unlimited Users
Video Meeting Capacity	Video conferencing not included	100 attendees maximum	200 attendees maximum	200 attendees maximum
App Integrations	X	X	✓	✓
Real-Time Analytics	X	X	✓	✓
File sharing and editing	✓	✓	✓	✓
Chat messaging	✓	✓	✓	✓
Team Collaboration Features	✓	✓	✓	✓
Voicemail to Text and Email	✓	✓	✓	✓
Unlimited US/Canada Calls	✓	✓	✓	✓
Toll-free minutes	100	1,000	2,500	10,000
Toll-free numbers	✓	✓	✓	✓
Unlimited Business SMS Texting	✓	✓	✓	✓
Unlimited Audio Conference	X	✓	✓	✓
Call Management	✓	✓	✓	✓
Call Log Reports	✓	✓	✓	✓
Hot Desking	X	X	✓	✓
Multi-Level Auto Attendant	X	✓	✓	✓
Unlimited Internet Fax	X	✓	✓	✓
Automatic Call Recording	X	X	✓	✓
Advanced Call Handling/Monitoring Features	X	X	✓	✓
Single Sign-on	X	X	✓	✓
Device Status Alerts and Reports	X	X	X	✓
Unlimited Storage	X	X	X	✓
c24/7 Customer Support	X	✓	✓	✓

 

The RingCentral pricing model is based on the number of users selected, which can range from 1-999. The below table outlines the features and pricing of each plan. Though RingCentral offers a free version of its video calling app, there is no free plan for RingCentral desktop.

Note that the Essentials plan does not include video meetings.

However, users can download the RingCentral Glip app for high-quality free video meetings.

 

What is RingCentral for Desktop?

 

 

RingCentral for Desktop is the softphone desktop computer application for RingCentral Office, a cloud communications platform that combines collaborative chat messaging, web conferencing software, and phone calls into an all-in-one app.

It’s designed to let remote teams access and work within the RingCentral interface from anywhere, offering a higher level of flexibility.

Though customers are able to purchase RingCentral’s live chat messaging, video communication, and business phone plans separately, companies can save up to 30% by purchasing the bundled Ringcentral Office desktop app, which offers all 3 services.

Users can seamlessly switch between the desktop application and RingCentral mobile app while on video or telephone calls, or go from chat messaging to a video call with one click.

Best of all?

The Desktop app is entirely browser-based, meaning users won’t need to download an application to access it.

It has over 400,000 worldwide customers, including Columbia University, the Oakland A’s, and Insureon. Gartner reports have named RingCentral as a UCaaS Magic Quadrant leader for five consecutive years.

 

An Overview of Essential RingCentral Desktop Features

 

Now, let’s take a closer look at RingCentral’s Office’s essential business communication features that users will access on the desktop version of the application. They include:

 

• Instant Chat Messaging and Team Collaboration
• Video Meetings
• Business Phone Features
• Phone System Administration
• RingCentral Desktop Analytics and Reporting

 

Instant Chat Messaging With Team Collaboration Tools

 

RingCentral’s collaborative instant chat tool allows employees to message one another individually in a private chat and in groups via team-wide or multi-user channels.

Unlike popular Slack alternatives, RingCentral combines team messaging with basic task management features. According to the RingCentral website, 64% of users have shortened project timelines thanks to the software’s collaboration tools.

Team leaders can assign tasks to specific employees or an entire team, and all assignments appear in the messaging stream.

Users can also comment on these tasks, tag each other, and upload files. RingCentral’s Tasks tab gives employees an overview of current assignments, shows managers tasks assigned to an employee or team, and even allows users to set project statuses.

Tasks can be color-coded and sorted by due or assignment dates, conversations, or assignees. The drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to reorder tasks, a staple of team collaboration software. Managers can set task descriptions and automate repeated tasks.

Standard chat messaging features include:

 

• Real-time file sharing and editing
• Searchable chat archive
• One-click video conference call
• Ability to pin files
• Polling
• Save chats
• Unlimited external guest users
• Team member status
• Host controls for chat accessibility

 

Video Meeting Features

 

RingCentral’s no-download HD voice and video conferencing platform allows for face-to-face communication for up to 200 users, with a maximum of 50 shared simultaneous screens.

This means that it’s ideal for both online meetings and small-scale webinars.

Video communication is accessible on both desktop and Android and Apple iOS mobile devices, and users can switch between desktop and mobile communication with one click. Chat messaging is included with video calling, meaning users will also enjoy the features above during a video call.

Given the rise of privacy threats like Zoombombing and data sharing, RingCentral’s video security policies are a huge positive. All meetings are encrypted, and the platform has undergone both  SAST and DAST tests and third-party security testing.

Click here for a copy of its privacy notice.

RingCentral’s top web conferencing features include:

 

• Unlimited cloud meeting recording
• Screen sharing (entire screen, web browser, or single app)
• Remote desktop control
• Whiteboarding
• Screen annotation
• File markup and sharing
• Up to 50 breakout rooms
• One-click meeting scheduling
• Personalized meeting rooms
• Active speaker view
• Mobile video calling
• Multiple browser compatibility
• Mute/unmute
• Dial-in access
• Safe driving mode
• Set recurring meetings
• “Call me” meeting access

 

Business Phone Features

 

The Desktop application also includes access to a cloud business phone system with unlimited calls to the United States and Canada and Android/Apple mobile device compatibility.

Admins can select from over 200 local area codes, which means separate numbers for individual employees and departments are possible.

Users may also opt for a local smart number, meaning that incoming calls, texts, and faxes to the business are sent to a singular, all-purpose number. Extensions are available in addition to separate local numbers. Toll-free 800, 888, 877 numbers, as well as toll-free vanity numbers, are also available.

RingCentral offers international coverage in more than 40 countries as well as inbound international numbers for over 100 countries. The cloud-based Global Office streamlines communication into a singular phone system.

Team members can also set their presence status to Available, Invisible, or Do Not Disturb to let others know they’re on an active call.

Additional calling features include:

 

• Call delegation
• Call screening
• Call forwarding
• Call flip for device switching
• Call parking to access held calls from any phone in the system
• RingOut one-touch calling from desktop computers or any phone
• Intercom for company-wide announcements
• Shared phone lines
• Wi-fi faxing
• Voice-to-email messaging
• Visual voicemail
• Set answering and pick up rules

 

Phone System Administration

 

RingCentral’s Business phone system offers a robust set of desktop and mobile administrative features.

In addition to Cloud PBX, users can also take advantage of RingCentral CloudConnect. This means that admins will have private and dedicated access to the cloud via Megaport, Equinix, or SD-WAN.

Multi-level IVR makes creating a flexible auto attendant system simple and allows employees self-service access to the RingCentral phone menu.

Additional phone administration features include:

 

• Personalized contact center greeting recording
• Hold music
• Dial-by-name company directory
• Multi-site management
• Number porting for existing phone numbers
• Hot desking
• Employee call monitoring
• Call logs
• Automatic call recording
• Caller ID
• User templates
• Free local and national directory listings
• Caller ID

 

RingCentral Desktop Analytics and Reporting

 

RingCentral’s analytics portal provides excellent insight into the quality of customer phone calls,  online meetings, and overall user data.

Essential KPI reports, predictive notifications, and trend analysis help management to better understand company workflow and identify areas for improvement. Reports can be automatically sent monthly, weekly, or daily.

Reports can include analysis of:

 

• Call wait time
• Usage by team/department
• Quality of service
• Inbound and outbound calls by departments and individuals
• Average call duration
• Missed vs answered call ratio
• Average calls per hour/day
• Meeting data
• Employee engagement
• Device data

 

RingCentral Desktop App Integrations

 

 

Though RingCentral is designed to dramatically decrease app switching, team members still may prefer other app interfaces or rely on other platforms for specific features.

RingCentral, Inc’s Desktop app gallery contains hundreds of possible integrations, and also provides an open-source platform for users to create their own tools.

Top integrations include:

 

• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Outlook
• Google Calendar
• G Suite
• Salesforce
• Slack
• Microsoft Teams
• Trello
• Zapier
• Box
• Google Drive
• Mailchimp
• Github
• JIRA
• Zendesk
• Okta
• Asana
• Hubspot

 

RingCentral User Experience

 

We analyzed recent customer RingCentral reviews of the desktop application to determine the most frequently mentioned pros and cons.

 

RingCentral Pros	RingCentral Cons
Superb audio and video quality	Lacking sufficient customer support
Compatible hardware options available	Interface not user-friendly, user experience not intuitive
99.999% uptime	Numerous issues with SMS text messages through the app
Seamless device switching	The interface can be slow to load
No download required	Desk phone echoing reported often
Real-time live analytics	Delay in reporting missed calls
Robust video meeting feature	Recent price increases

 

RingCentral Desktop Compatibility

 

The RingCentral Desktop app can be downloaded onto Windows 64-bit EXE and 64-bit MSI systems, as well as on Mac OS x. However, current system requirements mean it is not compatible with Linux.

The app works with a wide variety of browsers, including:

 

• Google Chrome, version 41 or higher
• Microsoft Internet Explorer, version 11.x
• Mozilla Firefox, version 27 or higher
• Safari, version 7.x or higher

 

Both Android and Apple mobile app versions of the tool are also available.

Existing RingCentral users who want to upgrade to the new app can download it on the RingCentral website.

Click here for more information on popular integration apps, RingCentral Office, RingCentral Meetings, and more.

 

Who Should Use RingCentral Plus Alternative Options

 

RingCentral for Desktop is best suited for mid-sized companies with a primarily remote workforce within the financial, healthcare, or retail sectors.

Though small businesses can benefit from RingCentral’s individual plans, they may not yet have a need for the bundled services the app offers.

To see how well RingCentral stacks up against top competitors, check out our side-by-side comparison of RingCentral vs Zoom.

The below table gives a brief overview of the top RingCentral Alternatives.

 

Provider	Zoom United	Nextiva	Microsoft Teams	Cisco WebEx
Pricing	3 plans from $25.00-$35.00/user per month	4 plans from $18.95-$57.95/user per month	1 free plan, 3 paid plans from $5.00-$20.00/user per month	1 free plan, 3 paid plans from $13.50-$26.95/user per month and up
Top Feature	Advanced native integrations	Detailed customer surveys	Advanced screen sharing functionalities	Excellent mobile applications
Best For	Teams that primarily communicate via video call, but also need a robust business phone system	Companies with a high daily call volume, prioritizing phone communication	Companies looking for an affordable paid plan, or those needing an advanced free plan	Fully remote teams

If you’re in need of VoIP services exclusively, our interactive table on the top Business VoIP providers offers information on user reviews, key features, pricing, and more.

 

RingCentral Desktop FAQs

 

Below, we’ve answered some of the most common frequently asked questions about RingCentral Desktop.